| 6 mins read
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte may be the political capital of Sri Lanka, but its commercial center is firmly established at buzzing Colombo. It hence happens that most visitors to Sri Lanka pass through Colombo, and can rather conveniently plan some time off to enjoy the lovely beaches in its vicinity. Here is our Sri Lanka tour guide Dumi’s listing of beaches around Colombo, along with his opinion on what is special about each one of them.
Mirissa Beach: (approx. a 2.5-hour drive to Colombo on the Southern Expressway).
One of the prettiest beaches along the southern coastline, Mirissa comes blessed with soft sands and water temperatures that are just right for swimming. The town has a generous offering of diving and snorkeling shops and whale watching tours that promise a sighting of the majestic creatures in the deep seas. Furthermore, this area can be enjoyed by all budgets, with accommodations from boutique hotels bang on the beach to backpacker hostels, all supplemented with international eateries and tourist-friendly shopping.
Hikkaduwa: (approx. 1-1.5 hour drive to Colombo on the Southern expressway).
Also called the party beach, this crowded and lively beach is a favourite with expats, more so from the European continent. The palm-fringed beach is picture postcard beautiful with waters great for surfing and snorkeling. The adjoining town does a great job of catering to tourists, with swim shops, seafood restaurants, local shopping and massage centers within easy reach of the beach.
Tangalle Beach: (Further south along the coast, Tangalle Bay is approx. a 3-4 hour drive from Colombo by the Southern Expressway)
Sri Lanka’s version of paradise on earth, Tangalle comes with all the trappings of a tropical beach; soft brown sands and turquoise waters coloured in with a dash of green palm. Originally a fishing village, Tangalle still retains its peaceful and quiet aura; the perfect place for people looking for solitude and divine sunsets.
Bentota Beach: (approx. a 1-1.5 hour drive along the Southern expressway)
Bentota comes with a range of accommodation choices though the luxury hotels here hold more allure. This long sandy beach with calm waters is conducive for those keen at trying out a range of water sports; kayaking, snorkeling, deep sea fishing et all.
Unawatuna Beach: (approx. a 2.5- 3 hour drive by the Southern expressway)
With its proximity to Galle, a tourist town that is essential on every tourist’s trip itinerary, Unawatuna has unfortunately been commercialized, and many a hotel, restaurant and sun bed can be found eating into its beach sands. Tourists and locals alike flock to enjoy its waters, making it a crowded albeit convenient destination.
Here’s an interesting tidbit: According to legend, drops of the famous Sanjivani plants from the Hindu Epic Ramayana fell in Unawatuna, and many of the medical herbs can be found in the vicinity even today!
Koggala Beach: A little beyond Galle and en route to Colombo, Koggala is a resort happy beach. Should you visit between November and April, you can catch the local experience of stilt fishing, where fishermen perch on top of stilts in the sea for their daily catch. During the southwest monsoon (May to October) the seas get rough but it’s rather beautiful to see the stilts standing valiantly against the backdrop of a grey ocean. Watch out for the fishermen who come running for a tip when you whip out your camera for a picture!
Kalutara and Wadduwa coastal area: (approx. a 45 minute to 1 hour drive from Colombo)
Developed as resort areas to cater to the “weekend getaway” crowd from Colombo, Kalutara and more prominently Wadduwa come well-endowed with the trappings of luxury resorts and pampering spas. The views may be as picturesque as other beach towns further south, complete with palm trees, fishing villages and glorious sunsets, but the waters may not be the best for sea bathing and water sports.
Weligama Beach: (approx. a 2.5 hour drive along the southern expressway to Colombo)
Small waves make Weligama a surfing paradise for beginners. Surfing shacks hence line the coastline, competing for space with traditional fisherman villages that indulge in stilt fishing as well!
Mt Lavinia: (right there in Colombo!)
Suburban Mt Lavinia does not have fine sands that you would experience down south, and the beach comes packaged with the crowds, occasional litter and teeming eateries expected of a city beach. But then this is your best bet for a quick beach getaway; lovely sunsets and calming sea breezes are still a great draw!
Dumi’s compilation of favourite beaches lists a majority of beaches that sit south of Colombo, and he suggests that if you have time only for a few beaches, head south of Colombo. The best time to visit is from November to April, since June to October sees the onslaught of the Southwest monsoon. So if you are planning a beach visit from April to November, head north of Colombo. Some beaches up north are at Kalpatiya (known for its whale watching), Marawila and Negombo. Arugam Bay on Sri Lanka’s south east coast is where the serious surfers head to, easily rated by the surfing community as one of the best surf spots in Sri Lanka. The town has the feel of a typical westernized Asian town; tad overpriced, with great yoga and a party vibe.
So depending on the time of year and the type of activity you are looking to do, divers, surfer, fisherman and beach bums, choose the beach in harmony with you soul, and have a great holiday!
by:Gaurav Kumar
(There is so much to see and experience in Sri Lanka, and the travel times between one point of interest and another makes for a rather long driving holiday! When I visited Sri Lanka in December 2016, it was all very interesting to look out of the window and catch glimpses of the Sri Lankan towns and villages as my car made its way from attraction to another; but the highlight of these car rides were my conversations with our driver guide. This conversation about beaches is one of them!)
Image details and licences: https://flic.kr/p/iNNHZn (Chris Nener, CC BY-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/pbkUv3 (Amila Tennakoon, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/dX2Ckk (Jim Tebbutt, CC BY-NC 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/8W3RFz (Hafiz Issadeen, CC BY-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/bieZdF (Gane, CC BY-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/LS1PVb (dronepicr, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/rfcd6G (Gerry Zambonini, CC BY-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/pSYYXP (Ramón, CC BY-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/ctFFf7 (Wendy Dooldeniya, CC BY-NC 2.0)